Dr Marc Rius PhD

Lecturer

Dr Marc Rius is Lecturer within Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton at the University of Southampton.

My research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms that determine species ranges and how human activities reshape biotic communities. My research group (Ecology & Evolution Lab) incorporates cutting-edge analytical and genetic techniques to conduct studies on biogeography, community ecology, population genetics and conservation biology.

2011-2012: Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Davis, United States of America

2009-2010: Centre for Invasion Biology Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cape Town, South Africa

2008: PhD (Biological Sciences), University of Barcelona, Spain

2004: MSc (Marine Biology), Rhodes University, South Africa

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Research interests

Genetics and colonisation

Range-shifting populations are often characterised by high levels of genetic diversity as a result of propagules from multiple sources, recurrent introductions and genetic admixture. Our research group develops novel genetic tools and implements innovative analytical techniques to understand how different genetic signatures influence range shifts.

Evolutionary history and speciation

Many of the world’s coastal regions contain a large proportion of marine species that cannot be clearly identified due to a lack of systematic, biogeographical and historical evidence. We combine genetic and taxonomic analyses to improve our understanding of phylogenetic relationships and cryptic marine biodiversity.

Community ecology and life cycles

Many organisms have complex life cycles whereby individuals undergo dramatic developmental transitions before reaching adulthood. Little is known about how multiple ecological and evolutionary mechanisms interact across the life cycle. We study interactions across multiple life-history stages to assess the relative role of these mechanisms in determining species distributions.